Mirinda or Fanta? Which one is your favorite? Although both of the soft drinks are not at all good for health, and that is the sole reason we will be determining which one between Fanta and Mirinda is less harmful to your health.
Mirinda is a product of the PepsiCo company whereas Fanta is a product of the Coca-Cola company. So today in this article we will be looking at the various ingredients used in making these soft drinks and will be determining which one is better between Mirinda and Fanta.
What are the similarities between Fanta and Mirinda?
Fanta and Mirinda are very similar to each other because of several factors. These factors are as follows
- Both are found in the orange flavor and almost the same color.
- Both are carbonated beverages.
- Both are almost the same in price.
- None have any nutritional benefits or takes part in making your health better.
- Both are used as soft drinks and refreshers.
Mirinda vs Fanta – The Differences
1. Carbonated water
The first ingredient that is found both in Mirinda and Fanta is carbonated water. Carbonated water is not at all harmful to health, in fact, it helps in digestion. As a result, soft drinks like Mirinda and Fanta are known to help you with digestion.
2. Sugar Content
Both Mirinda and Fanta contain almost the same amount of sugar. 250 ml of Mirinda consists of 35g of sugar whereas 300ml of Fanta contains about 40g of sugar. The difference in sugar content is not that much and is about 2-3 grams.
Though the amount of sugar content is not that much if you are taking this on a regular basis, the amount of sugar consumed is far more than the daily requirement of sugar. Your daily sugar requirement is 20-25 grams and these small packs of soft drinks consist of about 35g of sugar. So you can understand that if you are taking these soft drinks on a regular basis or two to three times a day it may be harmful to your health.
3. Types of acidity regulators used
Acidity regulators are generally used as in soft drinks because of certain reasons. These reasons include
- Acid regulators maintain the pH value of soft drinks.
- It helps in improving the taste.
- It is also responsible for increasing the product shelf-life.
- It also helps in preventing microbial growth.
Both Mirinda and Fanta have 330 and 331 acid regulators. Both of these acid regulators are not harmful to your health.
4. Stabilizer
Stabilizers are basically used in a product to make it thick and to provide a uniform texture.
Mirinda uses the Stabilizer-1450, which is a modified starch. Though Stabilizer-1450 has no side effects overconsumption may be harmful to your health. Mirinda has added this Stabilizer by keeping the safe limit in mind.
Fanta uses the Stabilizer- 414, which is also known as Gum Arabic. Gum Arabic is a type of fiber that may not be easily absorbed by your body but is safe for your health. Fiber plays a major role in improving your gut.
Stabilizer-450 is found both in Fanta and Mirinda. This stabilizer is also known as glycerol and is safe for your health. Though high intake of glycerol can have side effects on your health.
5. Preservatives
Preservatives are mandatory in any soft drinks. Both Mirinda and Fanta have preservative-211 as their ingredient which is also known as sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate prevents microbial activities in these soft drinks but can lead to several side effects as well. Various studies have proved that sodium benzoate can have side effects which include
- Obesity
- Inflammation
- Heart diseases
- Diabetes
- Cancer
FDA has defined a safe limit of sodium benzoate and I am pretty sure both Fanta and Mirinda follow the safe limit. Apart from soft drinks, sodium benzoate is found in toothpaste, toiletries, and various cosmetics that we use in our daily life. So, if you using everything at once it is quite natural for the sodium benzoate to exceed the safe limit defined by the FDA. So, it is better to avoid products like Fanta or Mirinda and go for healthy products.
6. Food dye
Food dye 110 is found in Mirinda and Fanta which gives them the orange color. No real oranges are used for making these soft drinks, instead, this food dye-110 and added flavors give the orange taste and color.
If you are giving the food dye 110 to your children on a regular basis, it will make your children hyperactive and this leads to disturbance of their sleep at night. Too much food dye can lead to various side effects in children which include
- Illness
- Obesity
- Affects mental stability
7. Calories
The amount of calories present in Mirinda and Fanta is almost the same. 55Kcal of calories is found in 100 ml of Mirinda and 100 ml of Fanta provides you with 52Kcal. So, more or less both provide you with the same amount of calories and the entire calorie is coming from the sugar content present in these soft drinks. As a result, both of these products are considered junk foods and it is recommended to stay away from these products.
8. Pricing
In aspects of pricing, Fanta is a little bit expensive compared to Mirinda. 250ml of Mirinda costs you around Rs 20 whereas 300ml of Fanta costs you around Rs 35.
9. Taste
Fanta and Mirinda slightly vary in taste. Though both have this orange-flavored taste the better taste entirely depends on the preferences of the person drinking it.
Who should absolutely stay away from Fanta or Mirinda?
- Diabetic patients
- People with hypertension
- Children under 5 years
- Pregnant and lactating moms
Conclusion
More or less both are similar and are equally harmful to your health. Both Mirinda and Fanta are high in sugar, contain harmful colors and preservatives, and have no health benefits. I cannot find a single point that will help me to determine the less harmful one among both. For mere taste, one should never compromise on their health.
It is okay to drink Fanta or Mirinda occasionally but if you are consuming such drinks on a long term or on a regular basis, then you can face several health issues. And the weird part is such big companies have no disclaimer on their product’s packaging. It is always recommended to always read the ingredients list on the back of the product and then choose the right product.
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